Lavandula Plant Named &#39;LABZ0006&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Lavandula  plant named ‘LABZ0006’, particularly distinguished by numerous rose-pink sterile large bracts, rose-pink flowers, medium green foliage without greyish hue, a fairly small sized plant with a rounded, mounding habit, early to flower and long flowering.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Lavandula stoechas

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘LABZ0006’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Lavandula, botanically known asLavandula stoechas, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name‘LABZ0006’.

‘LABZ0006’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivarhas numerous rose-pink sterile large bracts, rose-pink flowers, mediumgreen foliage without greyish hue, a fairly small sized plant with arounded, mounding habit, is early to flower and long flowering.

‘LABZ0006’ originated from a pollination made in 2008 in a greenhouse inEnkhuizen, Netherlands. The female parent was the unpatented,proprietary plant designated ‘LA-07-45-5’, with a rose flower, compacthabit, weak growth, and starting to flower 2 weeks later when comparedto ‘LABZ0006’.

The male parent of ‘LABZ0006’ is unknown.

The resultant seed was sown in January 2010 and grown outdoors inEnkhuizen, Netherlands. ‘LABZ0006’ was selected as a single floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross on Jul. 23, 2010 inEnkhuizen, Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘LABZ0006’ was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection inApril 2011 in a greenhouse in Enkhuizen, Netherlands.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated April 2011, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated thatthe combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘LABZ0006’are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

‘LABZ0006’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in theEuropean Union Community Office (CPVO) on Oct. 15, 2013, No. 2013-2676.‘LABZ0006’ has not been made publicly available more than one year priorto the filing of this application.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of thesecharacteristics distinguishes this Lavandula as a new and distinctvariety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘LABZ0006’ with colors being as true as possible withan illustration of this type. The photographic drawings show in FIG. 1 aflowering plant of the new variety and in FIG. 2 a flowering plant froman outdoor trial.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The plant descriptions and measurements were taken outdoors inEnkhuizen, Netherlands on Aug. 26, 2014 on about 13 weeks old plants.Rooted cuttings had been planted into 13 cm pots in week 22 (end ofMay), 2014. The plants were not pinched.

The aforementioned photographs: FIG. 1 was taken in Enkhuizen,Netherlands on Aug. 20, 2013 and showing a closer view of theinflorescences. FIG. 2 was taken in Enkhuizen, Netherlands on Aug. 20,2013 and showing a plant from an outdoor trial. These plants were about13 weeks of age. Plants had started flowering naturally by beginning ofAugust.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.) 2001.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘LABZ0006’ AND A MOSTSIMILAR VARIETY ‘LABZ0001’, commer- cially Javelin Compact ‘LABZ0006’Rose (not patented) Plant size: Taller, more vigorous Smaller Size ofbracts: 3 cm 2 cm Number of bracts per 6-8 4-5 inflorescence: Bractcolor: RHS 75B, light purple- RHS 76D, distinctly pink lighter hue

-   Plant:    -   -   Plant spread.—25 cm.        -   Plant height.—30 cm, to top of flowering plane 25 cm to top            of foliar plane.        -   Growth rate.—Fast.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderate to robust.        -   Length of primary lateral branches.—16 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—0.35 cm.        -   Quantity of lateral branches.—About 25.        -   Plant habit.—Dense upright shape.-   Stem:    -   -   Juvenile color.—RHS 137B.        -   Mature color.—RHS 137A.        -   Texture/pubescence.—Densely pubescent.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Strength.—Very strong and flexible.        -   Internode length.—1.0-1.5 cm.-   Propagation and roots:    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 8-12 days at 21 degrees C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 20-25 days at 21            degrees C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, developing a woody texture            with age.        -   Color.—RHS 175A.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf type.—Simple.        -   Quantity.—20 fully expanded per main branch and 25 juvenile            leaves.        -   Length.—2.8 cm.        -   Width.—0.3 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of all surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Leaf fragrance.—Very strong Lavender scent with a hint of            clove.        -   Color.—.        -   Young foliage upper side.—RHS 137B.        -   Young foliage under side.—RHS 137C.        -   Mature foliage upper side.—RHS 137B.        -   Mature foliage under side.—RHS 137A.        -   Venation.—Reticulate.        -   Venation color upper side.—RHS 144A, only main vein            distinguishable from foliage color.        -   Venation color under side.—RHS 145B.        -   Petiole.—Absent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming period.—Late spring to mid-summer.        -   Form and shape.—Small single flower in verticillasters            arranged in spikes. Most commonly 7 rows of flowers. Flowers            have small bracts, and large showy terminal bracts. One            flower spike per lateral stem.        -   Number of individual flowers per spike.—125.        -   Fragrance.—Very strong lavender scent.        -   Flower lastingness.—Individual flowers lasts 1-2 weeks,            inflorescence remain ornamental for 4-6 weeks.        -   Inflorescence size, excluding terminal bracts.—.        -   Length.—6.0 cm.        -   Width.—2.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Cylindrical.-   Bud:    -   -   Length.—0.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Color.—RHS 77D.        -   Rate of opening.—Varies with climactic conditions: 5-10 days            from colored bud to open flower.-   Corolla:    -   -   Corolla shape.—Salverform.        -   Petal number.—5.        -   Petals fused or unfused.—Fused at base.        -   Petal apex.—Obtuse.        -   Petal base.—Fused.        -   Petal shape.—Top 2 lobes obovate, lower 3 lobes ovate.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal surfaces.—Glabrous.        -   Length.—0.4 cm (corolla tube).        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Coloration of individual flowers, excluding terminal            bracts.—Immature: RHS 77D Mature: RHS 77C, base RHS N155C            Fading: RHS 68D, base RHS N155C.-   Bracts:    -   -   Bract shape.—Elliptic.        -   Bract apex.—Acute with a cusp.        -   Bract color.—RHS 144C, cusp colored RHS 186A.        -   Terminal bracts (sterile).—.        -   Quantity.—4 large and 1 or 2 smaller per inflorescence.-   Large (terminal) bracts:    -   -   Length.—3.5-4.5 cm.        -   Width.—1.0 cm.        -   Form.—Petaloid.        -   Margin.—Entire and undulating.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Vein pattern.—Reticulate.        -   Color.—.        -   Upper side of immature bract.—RHS 75C, base lighter, RHS            75D. Veins darker, RHS 77A.        -   Under side of immature bract.—RHS 75C Veins darker, RHS 77B.        -   Upper side of mature bract.—RHS 75B.        -   Under side of mature bract.—RHS 75C.        -   Bract color fading to.—RHS 65C.-   Small bracts:    -   -   Quantity.—Typically 2 or 3.        -   Length.—2.0-3.0 cm.        -   Width.—0.7 cm, unfolded.        -   Apex.—Bi-lobe.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Aspect.—Undulating and folded inward at the mid-vein.        -   Color.—.        -   Upper side of immature bract.—RHS 75C, base lighter, RHS            75D. Veins darker, RHS 77B.        -   Under side of immature bract.—RHS 75C, base lighter, RHS            75D. Veins darker, RHS 77C.        -   Upper side of mature bract.—RHS 75B.        -   Under side of mature bract.—RHS 75C.        -   Bract color fading to.—RHS 65C.-   Calyx:    -   -   Width.—0.2 cm.        -   Length.—0.85 cm.        -   Shape.—Flattened tube.        -   Color.—RHS 144C.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle length.—9-11 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Aspect.—Very straight.        -   Color.—RHS 137C.        -   Texture.—Densely pubescent and ridged.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamens: 4 Anther length: 0.05 cm Anther color:            RHS N155A Pollen quantity: Pollen production not observed.        -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: 0.4 cm.        -   Style.—Length: 0.3 cm.        -   Color.—RHS N155A.        -   Stigma.—Length: 0.05 cm Color: RHS N77D.        -   Ovary.—Minute and immeasurable.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed production not observed to date.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to the normal diseases and pests of Lavandula            stoechas has been observed.        -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance.—Hardy perennial.            Tolerates high temperature to at least 36 degrees C.            Tolerates low temperatures to degrees 5 C. While specific            drought tolerance has not been observed, once plants are            established very little water is necessary to maintain            plants.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plantnamed ‘LABZ0006’, as substantially illustrated and described herein.